Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
3325 North Glenoaks Blvd.
Burbank, Ca 91504
Tel: 818-558-7474
Fax: 818-558-6333
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His Holiness Karekin ii
catholicos of all armenians
In the western DIOCESE

his holiness CONDUCTS
groundbreaking ceremony
at armenian church of scottsdale, arizona
June 16, 2004

On June 16, 2005 His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All
Armenians, accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate, and members of his entourage, arrived at the airport in
Arizona, where they were greeted by members of the Parish Council and
Ladies’ Society, and led to the Armenian Apostolic Church of
Scottsdale, Arizona.

At 7:00 p.m. in a procession of youth and the choir, His Holiness
entered the Church. Following the service the Primate introduced to
the faithful and the guests in attendance the 132nd Catholicos of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, who in his second Pontifical visit to the
Western Diocese has created a Renaissance of Faith throughout the
Diocese. He then invited the Catholicos to address the faithful.

His Holiness praised the Lord for the second opportunity to pay a
Pontifical visit to the Armenian Church of Arizona, and to witness
the happy smiles of the faithful. The Catholicos extended to the
faithful the blessings of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the
love and greetings of or people in Armenia.

The following guests were in attendance: Kevin Osterman, Scottsdale
City Councilman; Rabbi Robert Kravitz, American Jewish Committee,
Scottsdale; Dr. Stephen Batalden; Instructor Siranush Khandanyan, and
8 ASU students taking Armenian language; Rev Dr. Thomas Stiers, Church
of the Beatitudes, Phoenix; Rev. Andrew J. Barakos, Assumption Greek
Orthodox Church, Scottsdale; Rev. Fr. Philip Armstrong, St. Katherine
Greek Orthodox Church, Chandler; Very Rev. Arch Abbott Gabriel, St.
Peter & Paul Orthodox Church in America, Phoenix; Rev. Fr. Alan
Munteanu, St. John the Baptist Romanian Orthodox Church, Glendale,
AZ; Rev. Fr. Janko Terbovic, St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church,
Phoenix; Rt. Rev. Stephen Washko, Vicar General for Eparchy of Van
Nuys, CA; St. Stephen’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Phoenix; Honorable
Sam Mardian, former Phoenix Mayor for 3 terms.

The first gathering of Armenians in Arizona took place in 1957. On
October 16, 1963 the Armenian Church of Maricopa County was formally
established by a `Bishop’s Committee’ assigned by His Eminence
Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, then Primate. The church acquired its
own site in 1982 through the donation of a two-acre land by the
Hosepian family, particularly tanks to Miss Marguerite Hosepian.

In 1991 ground was broken for a 14,000 square foot, $850,000
cultural center. Construction was completed the following year and
the dedication of the Armenian Church Cultural Center and Melikian
Hall took place on January 12, 1992.

The Armenian Educational and Social Center was opened on February
12, 2000 housing the Nikit and Eleanora Ordjanian Library, the
Karam/ACYO Center, and the Der Levon A.K. and Yeretsgin Grace
Arakelian Memorial Collection.

The visiting pastor of the parish is Archpriest Fr. Shahe Altounian.

GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY

With the singing of hymns and the participation of a great crowd the
Catholicos was led out of the church to the site of the future church,
where he consecrated a Stone Cross and performed the Ground breaking
ceremony.

In his address Catholicos Karekin II emphasized the importance of
having a House of Worship, in order to provide the community with
spiritual nourishment, particularly to plant within our young
generation the messages of the Gospel. His Holiness stated that this
church, like the other churches of the Diocese, will be a golden
bridge with the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. He commended the
benefactors, the Building Committee, Parish Council, auxiliary bodies
and the entire faithful and expressed his hopefulness that with the
help of God and the leadership of the Primate the beautiful church
bearing the Armenian style will soar into heaven.

A reception took place at the end of the ceremony during which
faithful and guests in attendance had the opportunity to personally
meet the Pontiff of All Armenians.

Office of the Western Diocese June 17, 2005
Burbank, California